G'day All,
Firstly, this has been an awesome site to use as a research tool prior to ordering an Expanda. Not sure how I would have gone about it without the amount of knowledge and experience available here.
I'm Paul, and travel with my wife and 3 kids (5.5, 2.5, and nearly 1). After a lot of looking, touching and reading about various caravans we have decided a Jayco Expanda 18.57-9OB is most suited to our needs. This will be an upgrade from a soft floor camper trailer.
Prior to placing an order I would like to ask a few questions. Please feel free to provide as much feedback as possible, whether related to my questions or not.
1. Is it worth ordering, to get in the 'queue', and then worry about where extra power points, lights etc wil go or does that need to be finalised when placing order?
2. I keep reading about a Setec unit in these vans. From what I can tell it takes the 240VAC and rectifies and steps it down to a 12VDC output to run lights etc. What I would like to do is not have this unit and have all things that can run off 12V connected directly to the battery. A CTEK 25amp charger would then take 240v input and charge battery whenever connected to mains. One advantage to this is that i can then just have an anderson plug from van battery that would plug into my existing tow vehicle one and provide power from car aux battery when stationary or recharge battery from alternator. Has anyone done this or see a problem with it?
3. For anyone with the Holiday Annexe bed ends; do these stay attached when folding bed up or have to be removed/installed each time?
4. Can bedding (sheets/doonas) be left on bed when folding up to travel?
5. Thoughts on 4 seasons roof hatch upgrade?
6. Where is battery and Setec unit normally located on this model?
Sorry for the bombardment of questions.
And thanks to all the posters on here who provide a heap of valuable input for people like me to use prior to purchasing.
Cheers,
Paul
Firstly, this has been an awesome site to use as a research tool prior to ordering an Expanda. Not sure how I would have gone about it without the amount of knowledge and experience available here.
I'm Paul, and travel with my wife and 3 kids (5.5, 2.5, and nearly 1). After a lot of looking, touching and reading about various caravans we have decided a Jayco Expanda 18.57-9OB is most suited to our needs. This will be an upgrade from a soft floor camper trailer.
Prior to placing an order I would like to ask a few questions. Please feel free to provide as much feedback as possible, whether related to my questions or not.
1. Is it worth ordering, to get in the 'queue', and then worry about where extra power points, lights etc wil go or does that need to be finalised when placing order?
2. I keep reading about a Setec unit in these vans. From what I can tell it takes the 240VAC and rectifies and steps it down to a 12VDC output to run lights etc. What I would like to do is not have this unit and have all things that can run off 12V connected directly to the battery. A CTEK 25amp charger would then take 240v input and charge battery whenever connected to mains. One advantage to this is that i can then just have an anderson plug from van battery that would plug into my existing tow vehicle one and provide power from car aux battery when stationary or recharge battery from alternator. Has anyone done this or see a problem with it?
3. For anyone with the Holiday Annexe bed ends; do these stay attached when folding bed up or have to be removed/installed each time?
4. Can bedding (sheets/doonas) be left on bed when folding up to travel?
5. Thoughts on 4 seasons roof hatch upgrade?
6. Where is battery and Setec unit normally located on this model?
Sorry for the bombardment of questions.
And thanks to all the posters on here who provide a heap of valuable input for people like me to use prior to purchasing.
Cheers,
Paul
